2006 Mitsubishi Outlander Reviews - Page 2 of 4

2006 Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4L gasoline from Kenya

Summary:

Faults:

Nothing much. Just 2 small tie rods that got worn out (I assume they were worn out when I purchased it) that just cost me about $15 to fix.

Other than normal servicing, the car has been totally expense free on maintenance to my surprise.

On my trip to the service pit, the mechanic told me to change the CVT gearbox oil quite often, as this extends its lifespan.

General Comments:

The car is awesome for the family and has enough ground clearance to handle a camping vacation. The 4-wheel drive shift-wheel is also quite practical, and it gets you out of sticky situations quickly, especially in lock mode. It has amazed me with its handling and fuel consumption; it almost rivals my wife's Toyota's 1.5L saloon.

It's also a beauty, and they are rare here, which I think is attributed to unreliability from former Mitsubishi models. I can't believe I have had it for a year with only a visit to the mechanic for a minor gripe for a car this old. This is definitely not the last Mitsubishi will hear from me.

General Comments:

The first week of ownership, I drove it up a black diamond ski run (the hill was closed at the time)... This vehicle is great in snow!

I bought this car new because I needed a reliable car for taxiing. It lived up to my expectations and did not cause any problems at all. Since most of the 148,000 km on this car (or 92,500 miles) were city driving, it is not surprising that I was required to change the above-mentioned parts. All these parts, with the exception of brake pads, only needed to be replaced after 100,000 km (62,500 miles). The brake pads went at about 75,000 km.

You really have to keep in mind that it was a taxi, carrying heavy people and luggage, constantly starting and stopping with hard cornering and acceleration to not waste time (time is money with a taxi). Not to mention the endless hours of idling the engine to stay warm/cool.

Also, where I live, the yearly inspections are extremely thorough and the parts mentioned above are expected to be in "as tight as new" shape. So I could have gotten away with not replacing them for longer had I lived elsewhere if I were not responsible for the safety of thousands of people (both passengers and other drivers/pedestrians/cyclists).

This car does not have great acceleration, but handles extremely well for an SUV (or CUV). As a taxi driver, safety came first when transporting customers, so I got really good winter tires for winter driving (Bridgestone Blizzak - highly recommended). I only got stuck once because I was lazy and did not shovel my driveway after working 14+ hours in a snow storm (I was one of the few taxis on the road). I got stuck only because the car was on top of the snow and the tires were no longer touching solid ground. I had to shovel the snow out from under the car and it dropped down every once in a while til it finally "landed".

This reminds me of one complaint - the only one I have with this car. Be very careful when stopping in slippery conditions (this may sound obvious). If the ABS kicks in, the car seems to have a hard time stopping. Luckily, I had the common sense to pull the emergency brake in close situations.

Other than that, I highly recommend this vehicle. It has treated me well. I have moved on from taxi driving to office work and am now enjoying my Outlander more. Now it's a just pleasure to drive as opposed to strictly business.